Laura Wood, a writer at TheThinkingHousewife.com, argued the “Violence Against Women Act is an egregious departure from justice and common sense.” Two out of three poll responders agreed with Wood’s critique.

More remarkable were the responses to the statement of Janice Crouse of Concerned Women for America. About 80% of respondents agreed with Crouse’s contention that VAWA “victimizes both women and men while building a feminist power structure.” Only 20% disagreed with her view.

Seizing the other side of the debate was Deborah Tucker, director of the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence, who claimed the “Violence Against Women Act must be reauthorized because it is working.” Readers roundly rejected that line of reasoning, with 1530 persons opposed and only 803 in favor.

U.S. News readers did not appear to be swayed by consideration of partisan politics. Democratic senator Max Baucus (MT) and Republican senator John Cornyn (TX) both argued in favor of VAWA’s reauthorization. But over two-thirds of survey respondents rejected the senators’ positions.

Least popular was the position taken by Delaware attorney general Joseph Biden, son of vice president Joe Biden. Only 22% of respondents agreed with Biden’s stance that the Violence Against Women Act should be reauthorized in its current form.

Over 2,400 persons participated in the online poll. While the U.S. News poll respondents likely are not representative of the American population, it does represent the largest survey of its kind ever conducted.

“Lawmakers need to pay heed to the views of average Americans, not the shrill claims of industry advocates,” notes SAVE spokesman Philip W. Cook. “In this election year, many men and women have witnessed first-hand the harmful effects of an out-of-control abuse industry. Voters will be satisfied with nothing less than reforms that bring a halt to the widespread waste and fraud.”

Stop Abusive and Violent Environments supports the reauthorization of VAWA, provided key reforms are included in the new law.

Stop Abusive and Violent Environments is a victim-advocacy organization working for evidence-based solutions to partner abuse: www.saveservices.org